Noise mitigation systems (NMS) for reducing pile driving noise: Experiences with the “big bubble curtain” relating to noise reduction

For the offshore wind farm Borkum West II in the German North Sea the Noise Mitigation System (NMS) “Big Bubble Curtain” was used during pile driving activities. Within this project systematically variations of different influencing factors on noise reductions such as air volume, nozzle hose sizes, distance of nozzle hoses, etc., were investigated. Additionally the “Big Bubble Curtain” is currently in use for different other OWF in the German North Sea. Therefore, the “Big Bubble Curtain—BBC” is at the moment one of the most investigated NMS under offshore condition. Within this presentation, experiences and results of the above listed projects will be shown and discussed.